Tenancies can be terminated if family violence or landlord assault has occurred

The below provisions must come into effect by 11 August 2021, but may come in earlier if the Government agrees (using an Order in Council):

• Family violence: tenants experiencing family violence will be able to terminate a tenancy without financial penalty. These tenants will need to provide their landlord with at least two days’ notice, along with appropriate evidence of the family violence. Regulations will be created to specify what will be accepted as appropriate evidence.
• Physical assault: a landlord will be able to issue a 14-day notice to terminate the tenancy if the tenant has assaulted the landlord, the owner, a member of their family, or the landlord’s agent, and the Police have laid a charge against the tenant in respect of the assault.

More information about the reform of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986(external link) (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development)

Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2020(external link) (New Zealand Legislation website)